Laura Bush Asks to Be Removed From Pro-Gay Marriage Ad

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Former U.S. First Lady Laura Bush on February 4, 2013. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

News of a pro-gay marriage ad featuring prominent Republicans has certainly sparked intrigue — but so has former First Lady Laura Bush’s request to be removed from the spot.

As TheBlazereported on Wednesday, Bush is shown along with former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Sec. of State Colin Powell, with all three voicing support for same-sex couples in a TV spot for The Respect for Marriage Coalition. The comments that each made were not tied directly to the group and were derived from past media appearances.

Shortly after the ad gained attention in popular media, Bush’s representatives requested that her name and likeness be removed. Unlike other ads that use spokespeople to drive a message home, the coalition responsible for assembling this video pieced together media appearances featuring Bush, Cheney and Powell.

The clip featuring the former first lady was filmed during a 2010 interview with CNN.

On Wednesday, Anne MacDonald, a spokeswoman for Bush, confirmed that she had not authorized her inclusion in the Respect for Marriage Coalition ad and that the former first lady has no association with the organization.

“When she became aware of the advertisement last night, we requested that the group remove her from it,” MacDonald said in a release.

In the 2010 clip, Bush can be seen pushing for debate on the issue of same-sex marriage and seemingly calling into question the restrictions currently placed on the rights of gay couples.

“I think that we ought to definitely look at it and debate it,” Bush said at the time. “I think there are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see marriage as traditionally between a man and a woman, but I also know that when couples are committed to each other and love each other that they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has.”

So far, the organization hasn’t complied, however the request has led some, like The Atlantic, to question Bush’s reasoning for not wanting to be included in the ad. Cheney and Powell have not yet officially responded.

Watch the spot in question, below:

What do you think of Bush’s decision? Let us know in the comments section.